distance between lon and lat

How does one calculate the distance between a point at a given lat,lon
and another point at a given lat,lon?
To what precision?

I thought this would be easy, but distances east or west between
degrees of longitude vary, depending on north and south position.

Not only that, but no one seems to agree on the radius of the earth.
so, let's assume we use the data found in the WGS84.

Keep in mind, I am not a mathematical genius :)

Christopher wrote:
For this kind of calculations, go to
http://williams.best.vwh.net/avform.htm

Willem
--
Willem van Deursen, The Netherlands
wvandeursen_nospam@nospam_carthago.nl
replace _nospam@nospam_ for @ to get a valid email address
www.carthago.nl

Christopher,

An article that addresses exactly the questions you asked may be found at
http://www.usenet-replayer.com/faq/comp.infosystems.gis.html .

Bob

Bob (Robert G.) Chamberlain | I asked the Oracle at Delphi:
rgc@jpl.nasa.gov | "What is the best question to ask?"
Opinions & quips are mine | ...
- or public - not JPL's | Was the reply merely an echo?

Hello,

I'm still confused how to make this kind of calculation. This is about
absolute shortest path, not on great circle.

Tower 1 in location lat x1 lon y1 has antenna at height z1 meters.
Tower 2 in location lat x2 lon y2 has antenna at height z2 meters.

What is the shortest possible distance between the two antennas. I
can't get it right, I think some trigonometry part is missing in my
brain.

Great circle = shortest path


Do you want to include the z levels in this calculation or even go straight
through the Earth, i.e. not following the surface?